Adult Tethered Cord

Posted By  CCF Neurosurgery MD on February 08, 1998 at 11:47:47:

In Reply to: Adult Tethered Cord posted by Suzanne M. Gardner on February 07, 1998 at 22:12:43:

: Why are adults, people who are in their 40's, have NO symptoms of TCS,
  usually this condition is discovered by MRI due to some minor accident and
  then the neurosurgeons want to do a cord release?  Why?  If you have lived with this condition your entire life why encourage a patient to have the surgery?  And why is the rate of CSF leak so high with this surgery?  Which then requires another surgery to attempt to repair the CSF leak that the first surgery created?  Why operate on patients with this condition at all if it is not creating a problem for them?

[CCF Neurosurgery MD]

Dear Ms. Gardner:
There are many causes for tethered cord syndrome. Without knowing what the exact cause is the case you describe I may not be able to provide you with all the answers. In some cases, some people grow and do not necessarily develop symptoms. However as the spine ages and degenerates, the likelihood of permanent neurological damage increases dramatically and this is typically what happens. People are also at higher risk if the are involved in a car accident or a traumatic event. Because of the tethering of the cord, it can not compensate in an adequate manor to even minor injury and consequently results in severe damage. The rate of CSF leak is high because the spinal sac has to be opened to treat the tethering problem. Spinal leaks at our institution do not occur frequently after this type of operation and in most instances another surgery is not needed to fix the problem.
I hope this information helps. Please write back if you have any other questions.
Good Luck!